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It doesn't get a whole lot better than this.

With Brett Favre playing like a man time forgot, Mike McCarthy making all the right moves and Greg Jennings reminding everyone what they've been missing, the Green Bay Packers outlasted the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in one of the greatest games played at Lambeau Field in the last decade.

Favre's 57-yard touchdown strike to Jennings just before the 2-minute warning made the Packers a 31-24 victor over the talented, battle-tested visitors from the dominant American Football Conference.

"It's a very big win for us, one you can point to as far as building your program," McCarthy said after the Packers extended their National Football League-leading winning streak to seven. "Our confidence is real. It's building."

One of just five unbeaten clubs, and one of only two in the National Football Conference, the Packers without question are the surprise team of the league. After two years of basically lousy football, the Packers find themselves atop the NFC North Division for the first time since late 2004.

My, oh my, how these Packers have improved in almost the blink of an eye. The last time playoff teams from the AFC came to Green Bay, the Packers looked like sand-lotters in bowing to the Patriots (35-0) in Week 10 last season and the Jets (38-10) in Week 12.

Now, they're beginning to think they can not only play with anybody but beat anybody.

"I think people watching us or the film will see it wasn't a fluke," said Favre, who seemed relieved that his NFL-tying 420th touchdown pass took a back seat to the fervor generated by the victory. "It's hard to luck into three straight wins like this. When you win a game like that it builds, 'Hey, maybe we can.' "

On a glorious 75-degree afternoon, the two teams traded shot for shot in a precisely played affair. Penalties were minimal. Hitting was hard. The one and only turnover didn't come until the final minute, but even then it required an extraordinary athletic move by linebacker Nick Barnett to intercept Philip Rivers.

Nothing came cheaply. Mindful of their 2-10 record against the hordes from the AFC in the last three years, the Packers (3-0) were out to prove they belonged.

Humiliated a week earlier by New England, the Chargers (1-2) were jacked to turn around their season.

"I believe today that the Packers beat a good football team, a very good football team," San Diego coach Norv Turner said. "Then they made a play at the end that obviously won the game."

That play, a short slant to Jennings, ruptured into a touchdown because nickel back Antonio Cromartie gambled and lost in man-to-man coverage and Clinton Hart, the lone safety in the middle of the field, whiffed on the tackle.

"Looked to me like the receiver made a heck of a move," Turner said. "When you're playing a spread offense, tackling becomes a big priority."

It was the last of Favre's three touchdown passes, all of which came with the Packers in four-receiver formations from a shotgun set.

On the previous Sunday night, the Patriots had gone right down the field from spread formation against San Diego for an opening touchdown in their 38-14 victory. McCarthy studied that tape, but on three of the first four plays he used a two-back set that played into the Chargers' strength.

San Diego's three down linemen are almost immovable, which McCarthy soon recognized. By unofficial count, he put Favre in the shotgun on 38 of the last 51 snaps compared with only four of the first 12.

"Unfortunately, they did the right thing," said Jamal Williams, San Diego's all-pro nose tackle. "They did what they had to do." Not only did the spread limit Williams' role but it also forced the Chargers to line up six defensive backs, their worst position. Cromartie struggled, dime back Eric Weddle gave up a touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the other four were late-arriving all day long.

Getting Jennings back from a hamstring injury gave McCarthy three solid wide receivers, all of whom he wanted on the field.

But in order to press his advantage downfield, McCarthy positively had to have far better protection from his beleaguered offensive line.

"The Packers attacked us the exact same way as New England," defensive end Luis Castillo said. "So much of that is on Brett. Then it puts a lot of pressure on your O-line to go one-on-one. They handled it well today."

"Excellent game plan," Wells said. "We had a hurry-up tempo because we knew they were hurting. They couldn't rotate."

After a so-so start, Favre played remarkably well over the final three quarters for the second straight week. He got the ball out quickly and accurately, giving Driver and Co. chances to run with the ball against a poor-tackling secondary.

"Brett Favre is an amazing guy," Turner said. "He's playing like he's 25 years old. Brett Favre, he was on fire. He had a hell of a football game."

On offense, the Chargers got an unexpectedly strong performance from substitute right tackle Jeromey Clary against Aaron Kampman. Given ample time, Rivers picked apart the Packers for 15 straight completions to open the game, 306 total passing yards and a 116.2 passer rating,

Part of the problem was the Packers were braced more to limit the bursts of dynamic LaDainian Tomlinson.

To that end, they kept firing linebackers Brady Poppinga and Barnett on early-down run blitzes.

They also lined up their safeties at 10 yards or less, and as a result effectively prevented Tomlinson (62 yards) and prized backup Michael Turner (12) from controlling the flow of the game.

"We talked about swarming it," McCarthy said. "(Tomlinson) got the ball on the perimeter a couple times on us but I thought the defense did a great job."

Early in the fourth quarter, the Packers faced first and goal from the 1 and fourth and goal from the 1. Coston jumped offside to ruin the first down, then a leaping Phillips batted down a quick pass to Bubba Franks on fourth down.

"Everybody in the building was concerned that, 'Man, we just blew our chance,' " Favre said. "That's human nature. We're not going to get down to the 1 too many times."

But after producing an 18-yard completion on third and 8 for one first down, Rivers fired way high on a third and 3. That left 2 minutes 18 seconds for Favre to produce the winner.

For the second time this season and 38th time of his unique career, the 17-year vet delivered.

"In times of crisis . . . I put the ball in Brett Favre's hand," McCarthy said. "I learned this a long time ago."

If the Pack is indeed back, this Sunday might well be remembered as the start of something big.

About Bob McGinn

Bob McGinn is a beat writer and columnist covering the Green Bay Packers. A six-time Wisconsin state sportswriter of the year, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award in 2011 for long and distinguished reporting on pro football.